Dallas HERO, a bipartisan nonprofit organization, has proposed three amendments to Dallas’ ballot aimed at increasing funding for police officers and holding city officials accountable. The executive director of Dallas HERO, Pete Marocco, stated that the city is at a crossroads with the police department lacking proper funding and a “corrupt” city council. The proposed amendments, which voters will decide on in November, aim to address these issues and have received support from 170,000 Dallas residents who signed petitions in favor of the amendments.
The three proposed city charter amendments include Proposition S, which would allow Dallas residents to sue the city and require it to comply with charter provisions, ordinances, and state law. This amendment would provide residents with the standing to hold the city accountable when it fails to enforce the law. Proposition T would tie the city manager’s pay to performance through an annual survey, adjusting the salary based on results in various areas such as crime, homelessness, and infrastructure. Proposition U seeks to increase funding to boost police hiring and retention in Dallas, addressing the shortage of officers and inadequate police presence in the city.
Marocco emphasized the need for increased police funding, stating that the Dallas Police Department does not currently have the minimum number of officers mandated by previous legislation. The proposed amendment would ramp up hiring to have three officers per 1,000 citizens and increase police salaries to be more competitive with suburban towns. Marocco highlighted the impact of the officer shortage on public safety, leading to delayed response times, lack of police presence, and increased crime rates. He also noted the presence of human trafficking and Venezuelan gangs in the city, contributing to safety concerns.
Despite facing hurdles to get the amendments on the ballot, including litigation from the city council, Dallas HERO has persevered, ultimately succeeding in getting the amendments approved for the November ballot after taking the case to the Texas Supreme Court. Marocco stressed the importance of voter participation in supporting Amendments S, T, and U to improve safety, increase accountability, and enforce the law in Dallas. The proposal has faced pushback from Dallas officials, with Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins expressing concerns about potential cuts to essential services if the amendments are implemented.
Interim City Manager Kimblery Tolbert warned of drastic cuts across the board if the proposed amendments are approved, stating that it could send the city back to “the Dark Ages.” However, supporters of the amendments believe that the changes are necessary to address critical issues such as police funding, crime rates, and public safety in Dallas. As early voting approaches, the fate of the proposed amendments will be in the hands of Dallas voters, who will have the opportunity to decide on the future of the city’s policing and accountability measures.
